Frightfest 2024 kicks off with the world premiere of Joanne Mitchell’s gothic horror. Here’s our Broken Bird review.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: horror films do not have to be scary to be considered great horror films. A prime example of this is Broken Bird, Joanne Mitchell’s feature directorial debut which kicks off this year’s Frightfest.
Broken Bird follows Sybil (Rebecca Calder), a lonely mortuary assistant who finds solace in taxidermy, poetry and, er… dead people. Sybil’s story is juxtaposed with Emma’s, a mother grieving the death of her child. The two women’s paths intersect in the most horrific of ways.
Mitchell’s film shares a lot of DNA with Lucky McKee’s cult classic May. Both films feature lonely, traumatised women who are just looking for companionship. Sybil was orphaned at a young age by a car crash which rendered her an outsider, kickstarting her fascination with death. If you’re a fan of May, you may see where the film is going fairly quickly, but it doesn’t diminish the film’s effect, thanks to strong direction and a focus on the story from Mitchell.
The plot takes a while to really get going, but Mitchell creates a thoroughly singular and unique atmosphere in Broken Bird. This is part fantasy, part fairytale, part horror film that is rooted in tragedy. The film is wrapped in a dark, almost oppressive mood that feels suffocating in the best of ways. Broken Bird is positively captivating, even in its darkest moments.
A film like this wouldn’t work without a compelling lead performance. Calder commits to the role of Sybil with ferocious energy and she’s a magnetic presence on screen. Sybil is both a victim and the perpetrator in Broken Bird. We empathise with her just as much as we condemn her actions, the severity of which isn’t revealed until the very end in an intoxicating, horrifying climax.
The double narrative doesn’t always work in the film’s favour. Sacharissa Claxton’s Emma isn’t awarded as much character development or exploration as Sybil. The script, written by Mitchell, Dominic Brunt and Tracey Sheals, is being pulled into two different directions, but Sybil’s story is much more intriguing than Emma’s.
There are shocking moments of brutality, but Broken Bird isn’t a gory film. Unlike many horror films, Broken Bird doesn’t aim to gross you out. It asks for your empathy and to consider how difficult it is letting go and being alone in such a cold world. It’s powerful in its simplicity; it’s a fear most of us share and will have to confront one day.
Mitchell, a seasoned actress, announces herself as a talent to watch. Broken Bird is based on her 2018 short, Sybil, and Mitchell manages to avoid the pitfalls of stretching a short to feature length. Mitchell has a great eye for visuals and she understands how to get under the audience’s skin.
Broken Bird is not perfect by any means, but it’s a strong, compelling debut film. Horror has always been a genre dominated by female tragedy, but Mitchell brings a lot of style and sensitivity to it.
Broken Bird screens as the Opening Film of FrightFest on 22nd August at 5.30pm and is in UK cinemas 30th August.
